| Abstract |
"This text consists of Master D̐uogen's own words, albeit through the filter of his Dharma successor, Koun Ej̐uo, who wrote down the spoken words of his teacher. The title of the text, Sh̐uob̐uogenz̐uo Zuimonki, can be translated as "True Dharma Eye Treasury: Record of Things Heard." It also distinct from D̐uogen's magnum opus (called just Sh̐uob̐uogenz̐uo) in that it consists of relatively straightforward and accessible teachings, making more limited use of the allusion, word-play, and metaphor that characterize the essays that comprise Sh̐uob̐uogenz̐uo. Record of Things Heard can be read as a highly practical manual of Buddhist practice, essentially a primer of S̐uot̐uo Zen. D̐uogen's words express fundamental aspects of Buddhist practice in terms that are both concrete and straightforward in Japanese society in the thirteenth century. Among the many topics covered, D̐uogen especially emphasizes the following points: seeing impermanence, departing from the ego-centered self, being free from greed, giving up self-attachment, following the guidance of a true teacher, and the practice of zazen, specifically shikantaza, or "just sitting". Record of Things Heard is a bilingual edition with extensive notes which help to provide the reader with a new way of approaching the text. As bonus material, this edition also includes translations and commentary of D̐uogen's luminously evocative waka poetry, formerly published under the title White Snow on Bright Leaves. The book also includes a selection of Dogen's waka poetry with commentary"-- Provided by publisher. |
